Chauncey ‘Gene’ Gercken

Services for Chauncey “Gene” Gercken, 79, Kansas City, Mo., and Gladstone, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Charter Funerals Northland Chapel in Gladstone.Mr. Gercken died Monday, April 25, 2005, at his home from cancer.He was born Nov. 2, 1925, in Atchison, Kan., the son of Chauncey L. and Maude Sass Gercken. He graduated from Atchison High School in 1943. He attended Kansas University.Mr. Gercken served in the U.S. Merchant Marines during World War II. He was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1950 to 1952. He served in the Second Infantry Division as a cryptographer. He worked as county circulation manager for the Atchison Daily Globe from 1949 to 1950. He later worked at Press Engraving from 1955 to 1966 in St. Joseph, at the Topeka Daily Capitol in 1966 and Kansas City Star from 1966 to 1988 when he retired.He married Delores “Jean” Harman. She survives, of the home.Other survivors include two sons, Richard, Liberty, and Charles, Kansas City, Mo.; a daughter, Karen Frick, Lawrence, Kan.; two brothers, Leonard, Olathe, Kan., and Raymond, Grandview; and six grandchildren.The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home before the services.The family suggests memorials to the U.S. Merchant Marine Veterans of World War II Memorial or the Korean War Memorial in care of Caretakers of the Colors, sent in care of Woodland Methodist Church, 1100 W. 15th St., Wichita KS 67203 or to the American Cancer Society, Hospice or Fairview Christian Church, sent in care of the chapel, 77 N.E. 72nd St., Gladstone, 64118.